JP5034876B2 - Holding member, developer conveying device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a holding member, a developer conveying device, and an image forming apparatus.

  Conventionally, a developer feeding member is formed by connecting a powder developer delivery side and a developer receiving side by a developer transport pipe, and winding a wire in a spiral shape in the developer transport pipe. Developer that rotates and feeds the developer, and naturally drops and discharges the developer sent by the developer feeding member from the discharge port formed on the lower surface side of the tip of the developer transport pipe that connects to the developer receiving side In the developer transport device, there is known a developer transport device characterized in that the winding end portion of the developer feeding member is rotated in a state of being brought into pressure contact with the end surface of the end of the developer transport pipe (see FIG. Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-029514 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a holding member, a developer conveying device, and an image forming apparatus in which a plurality of developer containers can be mounted.

  The invention described in claim 1 has a plurality of guide portions provided corresponding to the developer containers of the plurality of developer containers and guiding and holding the plurality of developer containers from a predetermined direction. The holding member, wherein the predetermined guide portion in the holding member is replaceable with a guide portion that guides and holds developer containers having different capacities from a predetermined direction.

  The invention described in claim 2 has a plurality of guide portions provided corresponding to the developer containers of the plurality of developer containers and guiding and holding the plurality of developer containers from a predetermined direction. A holding member, and a plurality of developer conveying members provided corresponding to the developer accommodating bodies of the plurality of developer accommodating bodies and conveying the developer accommodated in the plurality of developer accommodating bodies to a developing device; , And the predetermined guide portion in the holding member is replaceable with a guide portion that guides and holds developer containers having different capacities from a predetermined direction.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, a transport member for transporting the developer is provided inside the developer container, and the developer container having a capacity different from that of the predetermined guide portion is guided and held from a predetermined direction. The developer conveying device according to claim 2, wherein the guiding unit is configured such that the conveying member is driven by the same driving source.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image carrier that holds a developer image in which an electrostatic latent image is formed and the electrostatic latent image is developed with a developer, and an electrostatic that is formed on the image carrier. Corresponding to a developing device that develops a latent image with a developer, a plurality of developer containers that store the developer supplied to the developing device, and each developer container of the plurality of developer containers A holding member having a plurality of guide portions provided to guide and hold the plurality of developer containers from a predetermined direction; and the plurality of developer containers provided corresponding to the developer containers of the plurality of developer containers. A plurality of developer conveying members that convey the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating body to the developing device, and the predetermined guide portion in the holding member moves the developer accommodating bodies having different capacities in a predetermined direction. An image forming apparatus characterized in that it can be replaced with a guide unit that guides and holds It is.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a holding member to which a plurality of developer containers can be mounted as compared with a case where this configuration is not provided.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a developer transport device that can be mounted with a plurality of developer containers as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, even when the developer container having a different capacity is replaced with a guide portion that guides and holds the developer from a predetermined direction as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided, The conveying member that conveys the developer provided inside the developer container can be driven by the same drive source.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus in which a plurality of developer containers can be changed as desired as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[Embodiment]
1 to 9 are diagrams showing an embodiment of a developer conveying device and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a tandem digital color printer as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a tandem type digital color copying machine as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of a tandem type digital color printer and copying machine. In the case of a digital color copying machine, as shown in FIG. An automatic document feeder (ADF) 3 that automatically conveys the documents one by one and a document reading device 4 that reads an image of the document 2 conveyed by the automatic document feeder 3 are provided. The document reader 4 illuminates a document 2 placed on a platen glass 5 with a light source 6, and reflects a reflected light image from the document 2 from a full-rate mirror 7, half-rate mirrors 8 and 9, and an imaging lens 10. The image reading element 11 composed of a CCD or the like is scanned and exposed through a reduction optical system, and the color material reflected light image of the document 2 is formed at a predetermined dot density (for example, 16 dots / mm) by the image reading element 11. It is supposed to read.

  The color material reflected light image of the document 2 read by the document reading device 4 is, for example, IPS (red (R), green (G), blue (B) (8 bits each) as document reflectance data of three colors. (Image Processing System) 12, and the IPS 12 performs predetermined corrections such as shading correction, position shift correction, brightness / color space conversion, gamma correction, frame deletion, color / moving editing, etc. on the reflectance data of the document 2. Image processing is performed. The IPS 12 also performs predetermined image processing on image data sent from a personal computer or the like.

  The image data that has been subjected to the predetermined image processing by the IPS 12 as described above is also four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) (each 8 bits) by the IPS 12. As described below, the image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K for each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are converted. The ROS (Raster Output Scanner) 14 is used, and the ROS 14 serving as the image exposure apparatus performs image exposure with the laser beam LB in accordance with document reproduction color material gradation data of a predetermined color.

  By the way, inside the tandem type digital color printer and the copying machine main body 1, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are provided. The two image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K are arranged in parallel at regular intervals in the horizontal direction.

  These four image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K are all configured in the same manner, and are roughly divided into a photosensitive drum 15 as an image carrier that is rotationally driven at a predetermined speed, and the photosensitive drum. A charging roll 16 for primary charging that uniformly charges the surface of 15, and an ROS 14 as an image exposure device that forms an electrostatic latent image by exposing an image corresponding to a predetermined color on the surface of the photosensitive drum 15. And a developing device 17 that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 15 with toner (developer) of a predetermined color, and a cleaning device 18 that cleans the surface of the photosensitive drum 15. Yes.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ROS 14 is configured in common to the four image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K, and uses four semiconductor lasers (not shown) to reproduce the original reproduction color material gradation data of each color. The laser beams LB-Y, LB-M, LB-C, and LB-K are emitted from these semiconductor lasers according to the gradation data. Of course, the ROS 14 may be individually configured for each of a plurality of image forming units. The laser beams LB-Y, LB-M, LB-C, and LB-K emitted from the semiconductor laser are irradiated to the rotary polygon mirror 19 through an f-θ lens (not shown), and deflected by the rotary polygon mirror 19. Scanned. The laser beams LB-Y, LB-M, LB-C, and LB-K deflected and scanned by the rotary polygon mirror 19 are scanned obliquely from below on the photosensitive drum 15 through a plurality of reflection mirrors (not shown). Exposed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the ROS 14 scans and exposes an image on the photosensitive drum 15 from below. Therefore, the ROS 14 includes four image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K located above. There is a possibility that the toner or the like may fall from the developing device 17 and be contaminated. Therefore, the periphery of the ROS 14 is hermetically sealed by a rectangular parallelepiped frame 20, and four laser beams LB-Y, LB-M, LB-C, and LB-K are placed on the upper portion of the frame 20, Transparent glass windows 21Y, 21M, 21C, and 21K as shield members are provided for exposure on the photosensitive drums 15 of the image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K. And these glass-made windows 21Y, 21M, 21C, and 21K are members located on the uppermost side in the optical path along the laser beam LB of the ROS 14 as the image exposure apparatus.

  From the IPS 12, the image of each color is provided to the ROS 14 provided in common to the image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K of each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). Data is sequentially output, and the laser beams LB-Y, LB-M, LB-C, and LB-K emitted from the ROS 14 in accordance with the image data are scanned and exposed on the surface of the corresponding photosensitive drums 15 to statically. An electrostatic latent image is formed. The electrostatic latent images formed on the photosensitive drum 15 are respectively developed in yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) colors by the developing devices 17Y, 17M, 17C, and 17K. It is developed as a toner image (developer image).

  The yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toner images sequentially formed on the photosensitive drums 15 of the image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K are as follows. On the intermediate transfer belt 25 disposed over the image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K, the images are transferred in multiple by the primary transfer roll 26. The intermediate transfer belt 25 is wound around the drive roll 27 and the backup roll 28 with a constant tension, and is driven by a drive roll 27 that is rotationally driven by a dedicated drive motor with excellent constant speed (not shown). The circuit is circulated at a predetermined speed in the direction of the arrow. As the intermediate transfer belt 25, for example, a flexible synthetic resin film such as PET is formed in a band shape, and both ends of the synthetic resin film formed in a band shape are connected by means such as welding, thereby endless A belt-shaped one is used.

  The yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toner images transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 25 in a multiple manner are transferred to the backup roll 28 by a secondary transfer roll 29. The transfer sheet 30 that has been secondarily transferred onto the transfer sheet 30 by the pressure contact force and electrostatic force and onto which the toner images of these colors have been transferred is conveyed to a fixing device 31 positioned above. The secondary transfer roll 29 is in pressure contact with the side of the backup roll 28, and secondary-transfers each color toner image onto a transfer sheet 30 conveyed from below to above. The transfer paper 30 onto which the toner images of the respective colors have been transferred is subjected to a fixing process with heat and pressure by a fixing device 31 and then discharged onto a discharge tray 33 provided on the upper portion of the main body 1 by a discharge roll 32. The

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the transfer sheet 30 has a predetermined size from a sheet feeding cassette 34, and is fed via a sheet conveying path 37 by a sheet feeding roller 35 and a pair of rollers 36 for separating and conveying sheets. Once conveyed to the registration roll 38, it is stopped. The transfer paper 30 supplied from the paper feed cassette 34 is sent to the secondary transfer position of the intermediate transfer belt 35 by a registration roll 38 that rotates at a predetermined timing.

  In the above-described digital color printer and copying machine, when double-sided copying such as full color is made, the transfer sheet 30 with the image fixed on one side is not discharged onto the discharge tray 33 as it is by the discharge roll 32 but is shown in the drawing. The conveyance direction is switched by the switching gate not to be conveyed, and the sheet is conveyed to the duplex conveyance unit 40 via the sheet conveyance roller pair 39. Then, in this double-sided conveyance unit 40, the transfer sheet 30 is conveyed again to the registration roll 38 with the front and back sides of the transfer paper 30 being reversed by a pair of conveyance rollers (not shown) provided along the conveyance path 41. After the image is transferred and fixed on the back surface of the transfer paper 30, it is discharged onto the discharge tray 33.

  In FIGS. 1 and 2, 44Y, 44M, 44C, and 44K supply toners of predetermined colors to the developing devices 17 for yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), respectively. Each toner cartridge (developer container) is shown.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the image forming units of the digital color printer and the copying machine.

  The four image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are all configured similarly as shown in FIG. 3, and these four image forming units 13Y. , 13M, 13C, and 13K, as described above, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner images are sequentially formed at predetermined timings. As described above, the image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K for the respective colors are provided with the photosensitive drums 15, and the surfaces of these photosensitive drums 15 are uniformly provided by the charging rolls 16 for primary charging. Charged. Thereafter, the surface of the photosensitive drum 15 is scanned and exposed to an image forming laser beam LB emitted from the ROS 14 according to the image data, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to each color is formed. The laser beam LB scanned and exposed on the photosensitive drum 15 is set so as to be exposed at a predetermined inclination angle α from an obliquely lower position slightly to the right side from directly below the photosensitive drum 15. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 15 is converted into yellow, magenta, cyan, and black colors by the developing rolls 17a of the developing devices 17 of the image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K. The visible toner images are developed with toner, and these visible toner images are sequentially transferred in multiple onto the intermediate transfer belt 25 by the charging of the primary transfer roll 26.

  In addition, residual toner, paper dust, and the like are removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum 15 after the toner image transfer process is completed by the cleaning device 18 to prepare for the next image forming process. The cleaning device 18 includes a cleaning blade 42, and the cleaning blade 42 removes residual toner, paper dust, and the like on the photosensitive drum 15. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 25 after the toner image transfer process is finished, after the residual toner and paper dust are removed by the cleaning device 43, the next image forming process. Prepare for. The cleaning device 43 includes a cleaning brush 43a and a cleaning blade 43b. The cleaning brush 43a and the blade 42 remove residual toner, paper dust, and the like on the intermediate transfer belt 25.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the developer conveying device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a front view showing the developer conveying device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The developer conveying device 50 is provided corresponding to each of the toner cartridges 44Y, 44M, 44C, and 44K. The toner cartridges 44Y, 44M, 44C, and 44K are arranged in the direction from the front to the back of the digital color printer and the copying machine main body 1. The toner cartridges 44Y, 44M are provided corresponding to the toner cartridges 44Y, 44M, 44C, and 44K, and the holding member 54 constituted by the guide portions 52Y, 52M, 52C, and 52K. , 44C and 44K, developer transport members 56Y, 56M, 56C and 56K for transporting the toner stored in the developing device 17 to the developing device 17.

  The toner cartridges 44Y, 44M, 44C, and 44K are formed in an elongated cylindrical shape that is closed at both ends, and inside thereof, a toner is contained and a conveying member that conveys the toner is provided.

  Further, the toner cartridges 44Y, 44M, 44C, and 44K are provided with openings at the rear end portions on the cylindrical surface that are opened when the guide portions 52Y, 52M, 52C, and 52K are positioned at predetermined positions.

  The digital color printer and the copying machine main body 1 are provided with a drive source for driving a conveying member provided in the toner cartridges 44Y, 44M, 44C, and 44K.

  The guide portions 52Y, 52M, 52C, and 52K are formed in a U shape in front view so as to guide and hold the toner cartridges 44Y, 44M, 44C, and 44K from the front of the digital color printer and the copying machine main body 1 to the back. Has been.

  In the present embodiment, each guide portion 52 of each holding member 54 shows a mode for guiding each toner cartridge to be inserted from the front to the back with respect to the apparatus main body. However, the present invention is not limited to this. An openable / closable cover may be provided on the upper surface of the main body to guide insertion of each toner cartridge from above the apparatus main body.

  The guide parts 52Y, 52M, and 52C are integrally formed, and the guide part 52K is formed to be detachable from the guide parts 52Y, 52M, and 52C. Here, the form in which the guide part 52K is detachable is shown, but not only the guide part 52K but the guide part corresponding to any other color may be detachable, and each guide part is adjacent to each other. It may be possible to attach and detach the parts.

  In the guide portions 52Y, 52M, 52C, and 52K, developer transport members 56Y, 56M, 56C, and 56K are provided along the longitudinal direction of the guide portion on the back surface of the guide portion on the side where the toner cartridge is mounted. ing.

  The developer conveying members 56Y, 56M, 56C, and 56K are provided with receiving portions that receive toner falling from openings provided at corresponding positions on the rear side of the toner cartridges 44Y, 44M, 44C, and 44K. There are provided first conveying bodies 58Y, 58M, 58C, and 58K that convey the toner that has fallen to the receiving portion from the back of the digital color printer and the copying machine main body 1 in the front direction.

  The first transport bodies 58Y, 58M, 58C, and 58K are formed in an elongated cylindrical shape with both ends closed, and a first transport member that transports toner is provided inside.

  The digital color printer and the copying machine main body 1 are provided with a drive source for driving the first transport member provided in the first transport bodies 58Y, 58M, 58C, and 58K.

  The developer conveying members 56M, 56C, and 56K have a driving force direction of the first conveying member provided inside the first conveying members 58M, 58C, and 58K corresponding to each developer conveying member in a front view. Transmission mechanisms 60M, 60C, and 60K that convert to the left are provided at the tip.

  The developer conveying members 56M, 56C, and 56K are connected to the leading ends of the first conveying bodies 58M, 58C, and 58K corresponding to the respective developer conveying members, and convey toner in the left direction when viewed from the front. Two transport bodies 62M, 62C, and 62K are provided.

  The second transport bodies 62M, 62C, and 62K are formed in an elongated cylindrical shape with the left end closed, and a second transport member that transports toner by being connected to the transmission mechanisms 60M, 60C, and 60K is provided inside. ing.

  The developer transport members 56M, 56C, and 56K include third transport bodies 64M, 64C, and 64K that are connected to the left end portion of the second transport member and transport the toner downward corresponding to each developer transport member. Is provided.

  The third transport bodies 64M, 64C, and 64K are formed in an elongated cylindrical shape, and a third transport member that transports toner by being connected to the left end portion of the second transport member is provided therein.

  The developer transport member 56Y is provided with a third transport body 64Y that is connected to the tip of the first transport body 58Y and transports the toner downward.

  The third transport body 64Y is formed in an elongated cylindrical shape, and a third transport member that transports toner by being connected to the tip of the first transport member is provided inside.

  Opening / closing mechanisms 66Y, 66M for opening and closing the lower ends of the third transport bodies 64Y, 64M, 64C, 64K corresponding to the respective third transport bodies at the lower ends of the third transport bodies 64Y, 64M, 64C, 64K, 66C and 66K are provided.

  Each holding member 54 and each developer conveying member 56 may be provided integrally, or may be detachable between the holding member 54 and the developer conveying member.

  FIGS. 6 and 7 are views showing the attaching / detaching structure of the guide portion in the developer conveying apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The attachment / detachment structure between the guide portions 52Y, 52M, and 52C and the guide portion 52K in the developer conveying device 50 is the first attachment / detachment structure 68 provided at the rear ends of the guide portion 52C and the guide portion 52K, the guide portion 52C, and the guide. It is comprised from the 2nd attachment / detachment structure 70 provided in the front-end | tip part of the part 52K.

  The first attachment / detachment structure 68 is formed so as to be fitted to the shaft 72 provided at the left end portion of the rear end of the guide portion 52C by a predetermined distance and the right end portion of the rear end portion of the guide portion 52K. It is comprised from the through-hole 74 which has.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, the second attachment / detachment structure 70 extends rightward from the right end of the guide portion 52K by a predetermined width by a predetermined distance, and extends forward at a predetermined width by a predetermined width at the distal end thereof. A protrusion 78 having a protrusion 76 that protrudes rightward in a substantially right triangle shape with the front surface as an inclined surface, and a recess 80 that is recessed at a predetermined width and a predetermined distance at the left end of the guide part 52C. And a recess 86 having a protrusion 84 extending in the forward direction with a predetermined width at the left front end and protruding in the right direction with a predetermined width at the tip thereof. Yes.

  Note that the protrusion 78 provided so as to protrude from the right end of the guide portion 52K is formed of an elastic member.

  In order to remove the guide portion 52K from the guide portions 52Y, 52M, and 52C, the protrusion 76 is removed from the state in which the protrusion 76 of the protrusion 78 and the recess 82 of the recess 86 are fitted as shown in FIG. By bending rightward, the fitting of the protrusion 76 of the protrusion 78 and the recess 82 of the recess 86 is released, and the guide 52K is moved backward. Note that, at the rear ends of the guide portion 52C and the guide portion 52K, the fitting of the shaft 72 and the through hole 74 is released by moving the guide portion 52K rearward with respect to the guide portion 52C as described above.

  In order to attach the guide part 52K to the guide parts 52Y, 52M, and 52C, the protruding body 78 is inserted into the concave part 80 of the concave part 86 from the state shown in FIG. The protrusion 76 of the protrusion 78 comes into contact with the protrusion 84 of the recess 86, and the protrusion 78 deflects to the right, and the protrusion 76 of the protrusion 78 jumps over the protrusion 84 of the recess 86. The protruding portion 76 of the body 78 is fitted to the protruding portion 76 of the protruding body 78 and the recessed portion 82 of the recessed portion 86. As described above, the shaft 72 and the through hole 74 are fitted together by moving the guide portion 52K in the forward direction with respect to the guide portion 52C.

  FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state where toner cartridges having different capacities are replaced with guide portions for guiding and holding them from a predetermined direction in the developer conveying device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a front view showing a state in which the toner cartridges having different capacities are replaced with guide portions for guiding and holding them from a predetermined direction in the developer conveying device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  8 and 9, the guide part 52K shown in FIG. 4 or 5 is replaced with a guide part 102K. As a place to be replaced, a mechanism that is detachable between the guide unit 52K and the first transport body 58K may be provided, and only the guide unit 52K may be replaced with the guide unit 102K. The guide unit 52K and the first transport body may be replaced. The guide unit 102K and the first transport body 108K may be exchanged for a cartridge having a capacity different from that of the 58K. In the latter case, since the shape can be made to correspond to the guide portions having different capacities, the degree of freedom in design is expanded.

  The attaching / detaching structure on the guide part 102K side for attaching / detaching the guiding part 102K to / from the guiding parts 52Y, 52M, 52C is the same as the attaching / detaching structure for attaching / detaching the guide part 52K shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 to the guiding parts 52Y, 52M, 52C. It is.

  The guide unit 102K guides and holds the toner cartridge 104K from the front to the back of the digital color printer and the copying machine main body 1.

The toner cartridge 104K, similar to the toner cartridge 44K, is formed in an elongated cylindrical shape whose both ends are closed, the interior, although conveying member for conveying the toner is provided with the toner is accommodated, the toner cartridge The diameter is larger and the capacity is larger than 44K.

  Further, the guide unit 102K is configured such that the conveyance member of the toner cartridge 104K is driven by the same drive source as that provided in the digital color printer and the copying machine main body 1 in which the conveyance member of the toner cartridge 44K is driven. Is formed.

  Specifically, the guide portion 52K guides and holds the toner cartridge 44K from the front to the back of the digital color printer and the copying machine main body 1, and the guide portion 102K holds the toner cartridge 104K in the digital color. The guide portion 52K and the guide portion 102K are arranged so that the center position of the toner cartridge 104K guided and held from the front side to the back side of the printer and copier body 1 is substantially the same position in the digital color printer and copier body 1. Is formed.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation implementation is possible within the range of the summary of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a tandem digital color printer as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a tandem type digital color copying machine as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram illustrating an image forming unit of a tandem type digital color printer. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the developer conveying device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a front view showing the developer conveying device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a view showing a guide attaching / detaching structure in the developer conveying device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a view showing a structure for attaching and detaching the guide portion in the developer conveying device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state where toner cartridges having different capacities are replaced with guide portions for guiding and holding them from a predetermined direction in the developer conveying device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a front view showing a state in which the toner cartridges having different capacities are replaced with guide portions for guiding and holding them from a predetermined direction in the developer conveying device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1: digital color printer main body, digital color copying machine main body (image forming apparatus), 15: photosensitive drum (image holding body), 17: developing device, 44Y, 44M, 44C, 44K, 104K: toner cartridge (contains developer) Body), 50: developer conveying device, 52Y, 52M, 52C, 52K: guide part, 54: holding member, 56Y, 56M, 56C, 56K: developer conveying member

Claims (4)

A holding member having a plurality of guide portions for holding a plurality of each developer container of the developer container provided corresponding said plurality of developer storage body is guided from a predetermined direction,
A plurality of developer transport members that are provided corresponding to the plurality of guide portions of the holding member and transport the developer contained in the plurality of developer containers held by the plurality of guide portions to the developing device. When,
A replacement guide portion that is replaced with a predetermined guide portion among the plurality of guide portions in the holding member, and that guides and holds developer containers having different capacities from a predetermined direction ;
With
The predetermined guide portion and the replacement guide portion for holding the developer container having the different capacity are a center position when viewed from the guiding direction of the developer container held in the predetermined guide portion. The developer transport characterized in that the developer containers having different capacities held in the replacement guide part are formed so that their center positions are substantially the same as viewed from the guiding direction. Equipment . A transport member for transporting the developer is provided inside the developer container.
The predetermined guide portion and the replacement guide portion are driven in the same manner as the transport member of the developer container held by the predetermined guide section and the transport member of the developer container having a different capacity. The developer conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the developer conveying device is configured to be driven by a source . An image carrier that holds a developer image in which an electrostatic latent image is formed and the electrostatic latent image is developed with a developer;
A developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier with a developer;
A plurality of developer containers containing a developer to be supplied to the developing device;
A holding member provided corresponding to each developer container of the plurality of developer containers and having a plurality of guide portions for guiding and holding the plurality of developer containers from a predetermined direction; and a plurality of the holding members And a plurality of developer conveying members that convey the developer accommodated in the plurality of developer containers held by the plurality of guiding portions to a developing device. A conveying device;
A replacement guide portion that is replaced with a predetermined guide portion among the plurality of guide portions in the holding member, and that guides and holds developer containers having different capacities from a predetermined direction;
With
The predetermined guide portion and the replacement guide portion for holding the developer container having the different capacity are a center position when viewed from the guiding direction of the developer container held in the predetermined guide portion. An image forming apparatus characterized in that a center position when viewed from the guiding direction of the developer containers having different capacities held in the replacement guide portion is formed to be substantially the same position. . A transport member for transporting the developer is provided inside the developer container.
The predetermined guide portion and the replacement guide portion are driven in the same manner as the transport member of the developer container held by the predetermined guide section and the transport member of the developer container having a different capacity. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image forming apparatus is configured to be driven by a source .

Images